Pocket-clip for retaining articles.



W. L. HOFFMAN.

POCKET CLIP FOR RETAINING ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10,19

Patented July '7, 1914.

WITNESSES ATTOR/VEV8 WILLIS L. 30mm, 01 JERSEY CITY,'NEW JERSEY.

POCKET-CLIP FOB RETAINING ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1914.

Application filed July 10, 1913. Serial No. 778,286.

To all whom it may concern Be it known'that I. WILLIS L. Horrrmn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident 'of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of .New Jersey, have invented aJ-ncw and Improved Pocket- Clip for Retaining Articles, of which the following 1s a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to article holders, and more particularly to a pocket clip for retaininglarticles in a pocket, although the device may be used for other purposes.

It is' generally customary with men to carry letters, memoranda, note books and other articles in thepocket of the coat, es-

tively inexpensive to manufacture, conveniently manipulated for applying or removing the articles, and which is efficient and reliable in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clip of the type embodying article-gripping jaws and a pocket-gripping jaw cooperating with one of the first mentioned jaws, there beinga common spring acting on all the jaws for holding the same in closed position.

Another object of the invention is the employment of a jaw-closing spring to act as a-retainer for the pocket gripping jaw so that no special fastenings are required to secure the parts together.

With these objects in view, and others as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and'arrangement of arts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention,

and wherein similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 1s a perspective view on an inside pocket of a coat, showingthe retainer applied thereto and retaining articles; Fig. 2 is an edge view of the device shown with the jaws in closed position and with the pocket-gripping jaw in open position; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the article-gripping jaws in open position; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the article-gripping jaws; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the jaw-closing spring; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the pocketgripping jaw.

Referring to the drawing,Adesignates a pocket; of a garment in which articles B are held by the article retainer C, which is gripped to the pocket so that it is impossible for the retainer to become accidentally detached, and as the retainer grips the articles B the latter are positively held in the pocket. The retainer C is composed of approximately flat article-gripping jaws 1 and 2 made of light, durable metal or other suitable material, which have their'inner ends united by a resilient rounded connecting portion 3. The jaw 1 extends beyond the edge 4 of the jaw 2, so that when inserting articles between the jaws when opened, as shown in Fig. 3, it is merely necessary to place the articles against the projecting portion of the jaw l and slip the articles upwardly between the jaws of the device. The resiliency of the connecting portion 3 is not relied on to hold the jaws closed, butrather a split tubular or cylindrical spring 5 is slipped longitudinally over the connecting portion 3, and the said portion 3 conforms partly to the shape of the spring 5, so that the latter is retained in place. Cooperating with the article-gripping jaw 2 is a pocketgrippingjaw 6 which is constructed as shown in Fig. 6. This jaw 6 is considerably smaller than the jaw 2 and is made of a strip of metal which has one end bent into a roll 7 while the other end is bent into an angular base 8 which carries a tongue 9, the latter extending into a slot 10 in the connecting portion 3. The edge 11 of the spring 5 engages the angular base 8 of the jaw 6 and presses such base toward the portion 3 on the main jaws 1 and 2 and retains the tongue 9 in the slot 10. By this means the spring 5 operates against all the jaws to hold the same in closed position and at the same time it fastens the pocket-gripping jaw 6 to the jaw 52 without requiring any special fasteners. In order to increase the grip of the and 6 the-pocket such jaws have teeth 12 and 13, respectively, the latter teeth being formed in' the roll or rounded portion 7 at the side presented to the jaw 2. To apply the articles to the (1617166 the articles are placed against the jaw 2 whlch project beyond. the lateral edges of the jaw 1 are gripped by the hand to pull. the jaw 2 away from the jaw 1, as shown in Fi 3. The articles are now moved'upwar 1y into-the jaws, which are allowed to close when the articles are in the right position. The articles and retainer are now placed in the 'ocket, and'during the act of placing the aw 6 is moved to open position'as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3,'a.nd when the edge of the pocket is adjacent: the'point 14, Fig. 2, the jaw 6 is allowed to close, so. that the retainer and articles will thenbe securely fastened in the pocket, as shownlin Fig. '1. In order to take out an article it is merely necessary to first open the jaw 6 and hold the same 0 en while the retainer and articles are w thdrawn from the pocket. Then the jaws 1 and 2 can be openedto permit the desired article desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent? 1. An article-holding device of the class described, comprising a air of jaws, a third jaw having its inner en associated with the inner ends of the first-mentioned jaws, and

spring common to all the jaws for maina single element holding the inner end of the third jaw inoperative relation with the first-mentioned jaws and constituting a rojecting' end of the jaw I and the lateral e ges of the tainin the same closed and permitting indepen ent opening movement of any jaw.

2. A device of the class described comprising three jaws, and a split cylindrical spring engaged over the inner ends of the jaws for maintaining the said jaws closed.

3. A" device of the class described comprising a pair of article-gripping jaws, a

first-mentioned jaws to secure the holder in a pocket, and a spring arranged to embrace the inner portions of the first-mentioned jaws and engage the last mentioned jaw for holding all the jaws closed and for maintaining the last mentioned jawattached to the first mentioned jaws.

5. A device of the class described comprising a pair of article-gripping jaws havmg a resilient connecting portion provided with a slot," a pocket-gripping jaw having a tongue extending into the slot, and a spring engaging and disposed exteriorly to the said connecting portion and the last mentioned jaw for holding the jaws closed and for maintaining the tongue in the said slot.

6. A device of the class described comprising a pair of jaws having a resilient connecting portion provided with a slot, a third jaw having an angular portion and a laterally-disposed tongue, said tongue being disposed in the slot, and a split cylindrical spring embracing the said connecting portion and engaging the angular portion of the third jaw for normally maintaining all the jaws closed and retaining the tongue in the said slot.f

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIS L. HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

CHATTER BRODWAY, PHILIP D. ROLLHAUS. 

